Frequently Asked Questions: Adoptive Parents and Adoption
By Megan Kostraba
Considering placing your baby for adoption is a big decision! It’s actually one of the hardest decisions a woman can make, and it’s even ten times harder if you’re making the choice on your own. With so much information available in our digital world, it can be confusing and hard to navigate. Knowing what sources to trust, figuring out if adoption is right for you, and understanding your needs is all a long process.
Adoption is a concept that brings feelings of anxiety and intimidation. A lot of people don’t know the inner workings of adoption or understand why women choose adoption every day. This puts a negative connotation on adoption, which we at Adoption Choices of Arizona are trying to dispel.
Expectant mothers who are considering placing their baby for adoption deserve a trusting guide during the adoption process. You deserve to understand all of your options, how adoption functions and will change you, and even if adoption is the right choice for you! Let’s talk about adoption and help you find some answers to these wandering questions.
What is Adoption?
Adoption has been, and continues to be, a wonderful option for birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children. While adoption is a challenge, it is also an amazing gift! It is a process in which a child is not raised by their birth parents but by an adoptive family that is chosen by the birth mother/parents. Adoption is legally binding, meaning that the child will become a legal member of the adoptive family and will grow in that environment for their life. It is an agreement where the adoptive family will have custody over the child.
There is a lot of emotion that comes alongside adoption. The thought of it may intimidate you or frustrate you. The adoption process is not an easy or fast one—there will be a very long road ahead of you, which is something you have to accept.
Unplanned pregnancies have happened to many women and will only continue to happen as time goes on. Being open about considering adoption is one of the first steps you will have to take. An unplanned pregnancy is scary—it can change your life in a matter of minutes. We understand! Not every woman will have the same adoption journey. No adoption is the same as another; every birth mother has different wants, needs, and concerns. This is why there are adoption agencies in Arizona available to help you. Understanding the adoption process will be integral to your decision-making reflection and process.
Why Do Women Choose Adoption?
Women choose adoption for countless reasons. Every reason is also unique to that woman and her current life situation. Pregnancy can be an interruption in your life that you might just not have planned for! You may have other goals you want to achieve before committing to motherhood, like furthering your education or career. Some women choose adoption because of financial needs, medical issues, personal goals, living concerns, or an unsupportive system. Every birth mother has a different experience. A woman might make her adoption choices based on previous situations, like an abusive partner or an invalidating family. Another woman might want to experience motherhood, but not currently in life. That’s okay, too! Your reasons for choosing and considering adoption are your own, and they are valid.
An adoptive family is chosen by the birth parents, or more specifically, the birth mother. An adoptive family is a family who would like to adopt a child—they may want this for a number of reasons! Adoptive families might not be able to have their own child or could want to help a birth mother in need. When you work alongside an agency, an adoption specialist can help you figure out what you are looking for in an adoption. Meaning what kind of adoption do you want? What kind of parents and family do you want to raise your child?
Private adoption agencies in Arizona are here for you for all of these reasons! We know that guiding yourself during an adoption is a lot to take on at once. At Adoption Choices of Arizona, we never want a birth mother to feel alone. We understand all of your worries and concerns and can help you find the option that is best for you and your child.
How Will the Adoption Process Affect Me?
The adoption journey is a challenging one—there’s no easy way around it. It takes a lot of mental work. Adoption makes you question yourself and the decisions around you. It causes intense feelings of grief, sadness, loss, guilt, and relief. Dealing with all of this at the same time as being pregnant is a weight of stress on your shoulders. It can be very tough to navigate your feelings. Understanding where your emotions come from, why they are lingering, and expressing yourself is one of the hardest parts of adoption.
Choosing adoption means accepting that you will need time to heal; lots of it. Whether it’s on your own, alongside an agency, or with professional help, healing is an integral part of the adoption journey. Adoption agencies near you will welcome you with open arms if you have questions about the changes you will be going through! It is a good idea to take time to make your decision rather than rushing it and feeling regret.
If you are considering adoption for yourself or want to know more about the process of adoption, reach out to your local adoption agency. They might have some of the answers you are looking for and can guide you better than the internet might.
Adoption agencies in Arizona are ready to help birth mothers and women thinking about adoption! We can help you think about your adoption journey one step at a time.
